September 5 (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

September 5 (2024): Dramatization of ABC Sports' coverage of the terror attack in Munich at the 1972 Olympics. Not the story of the murdered Israeli athletes or the Black September terrorists, but the ABC broadcast team who never expected to be in this role. That's probably the 3rd most interesting story. B-

On airplane

POTD: Will You Marry Me?

"He said, 'Let’s elope.'
She laughed, 'We’re already here.'
Mountains held their breath."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 07 Korto

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Kortor, Montenegro. "The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor, one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called it the southernmost fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon."

But that's not what you came to read about. Today's photo-of-the-day is a photo of a bride. I like taking photos of brides who I don't know. Sometimes you can make up a story about them.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Corfu

"Here, history sighs
not in ruins, but in life.
Corfu ever thrives."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 06 Corfu

Today's photo-of-the-day is of Corfu, Greece. "The ancient city of Corfu, known as Korkyra, took part in the Battle of Sybota which was a catalyst for the Peloponnesian War, and, according to Thucydides, the largest naval battle between Greek city states until that time. Thucydides also reports that Korkyra was one of the three great naval powers of fifth-century-BC Greece, along with Athens and Corinth.

"Medieval castles punctuating strategic locations across the city are a legacy of struggles in the Middle Ages against invasions by pirates and the Ottomans. The city has become known since the Middle Ages as Kastropolis (Castle City) because of its two castles.

"From 1386 to 1797, Corfu was ruled by Venetian nobility; much of the city reflects this era when the island belonged to the Republic of Venice, with multi-storied buildings on narrow lanes. The Old Town of Corfu has clear Venetian influence. The city was subjected to four notable sieges in 1537, 1571, 1573 and 1716, in which the strength of the city defenses asserted itself time after time, mainly because of the effectiveness of the powerful Venetian fortifications. Writer Will Durant claimed that Corfu owed to the Republic of Venice the fact that it was the only part of Greece never conquered by the Ottomans"

Needless to say, with that history, Corfu offers a blend of surprises around every corner.

POTD: Olympia

"No marble remains,
yet a stride can still be felt.
The race never ends."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 05 Olympia

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the ancient stadium in Olympia, Greece, "where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years throughout classical antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD." There's not much left of the stadium except the bowl itself. After the jump is a bonus photo of a modern athlete demonstrating how heroes are made.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

The Residence (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Residence (TV 2025): A fun whodunnit in the White House during a State dinner with a large cast of suspects. The eccentric Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) is the standout character in this overstuffed murder mystery. A-

Netflix

POTD: Santorini Blue

"Domes of quiet faith,
curved against the cobalt sea.
Santorini blue."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 04 Santorini

Today's photo-of-the-day is the classic view of Santorini, "the largest island of a small, circular archipelago formed by the Santorini caldera." The city clings precariously to the rim of an ancient volcano. "One of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history struck the island about 3,600 years ago, leaving a large water-filled caldera surrounded by deep volcanic ash deposits." Today, it's a Greek paradise in the Aegean Sea.

POTD: At Anchor in Santorini

"High on donkey trails,
buzz of tourists fades away.
I hear only wind."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 04 Santorini

The curse of the Greek Island of Santorini is its popularity. It's usually packed with tourists. So for this photo-of-the-day, I had to use this photo of our Viking cruise ship at anchor in Santorini to try to tell a different story — one of aloneness. Maybe it requires a little too much imagination, but this is my memory of Santorini and I'm sticking to it.

POTD: Back in Greece

"The theater sleeps.
We walk among its old dreams.
Past lives whisper still."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 03 Delphi

Today's photo-of-the-day shows us back in Greece, back in antiquity, in Delphi, "the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi". For fifty years, my favorite kind of travel has been time travel. The theater at Delphi was first constructed in the 4th Century BCE. It holds 5,000 people. Standing where they did and imagining all the plays, poetry and musical recitals that our predecessors saw brings the joy of travel to life.

The Eternaut (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Eternaut (TV 2025): Argentina. A toxic, apocalyptic snowfall kills millions. A group of friends sheltering at home survive and set out to get answers, but as they do, even more mysteries pile up like snowdrifts. Based on a 1950s graphic novel. The look and feel is gritty. The plot isn't resolved. C+

Netflix

POTD: Sunset over the City Fjord

"Fløyfjellet stands still,
Bergen nestled far below,
Fjord gleams like silver."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 10 Bergen

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Fløyen, or Fløyfjellet, "one of the 'seven city mountains' in Bergen, Norway. Its highest point is 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level. The view of the Bergen peninsula makes Fløyfjellet a popular attraction among tourists and locals alike. The Fløibanen funicular transports passengers from the centre of Bergen to a height of 320 m (1,050 ft) in roughly eight minutes."

As the sun sets over Bergen and the Byfjorden (the City Fjord), we say farewell to Norway.

Our next stop? Greece.

A bonus photo is after the jump.